Tuesday, 25 June 2024

Third Day of the Trinity

Tuesday of the 1st week after Pentecost

51 days after Pascha · Tone 7 · Red squigg (doxology typikon symbol) · No Fast (Fast Free)

Saints commemorated

★ Holy Virgin Martyr Febronia of Nisibis

The holy Virgin Martyr Febronia suffered during the persecution of Diocletian at the beginning of the fourth century, when she was about twenty years old. She had been raised from infancy in the women's monastery at Sibapolis in Assyria under the care of her aunt, the abbess Bryaena, who set before her a stricter rule of life than the rest of the sisters in view of her exceptional gifts. Her wisdom, meekness and abstinence drew many to her, and a wealthy young widow named Hieria, a pagan, came to seek instruction; through Febronia's prayers and counsel Hieria received holy baptism and brought her parents and household to the Christian faith. When the prefect Selinus and his nephew Lysimachus, sent by Diocletian to root out Christianity in Mesopotamia, came to the convent, Febronia was dragged from her sickbed and brought before the tribunal. Selinus offered her honours, riches and marriage with Lysimachus if she would deny Christ, but she replied that she had an immortal Bridegroom and would exchange Him for no man. After a long interrogation she was beaten with rods, suspended on a tree above a fire, her teeth and breasts cut off, and finally beheaded. Lysimachus, struck with horror at her sufferings, was converted to Christ. Her life was written by the nun Thomais, an eyewitness, and her relics were translated to Constantinople in 363 where many miracles and healings were granted through her intercession.

Holy Martyrs Orentios and his brothers

The Holy Martyrs Orentios, Pharnakios, Erotas, Phirmos, Phirminos, Kyriakos and Longinos were seven brothers, soldiers in the Roman army of Thrace, who served with distinction during the reign of the Emperor Maximian at the close of the third century. When the persecution arose against the Christians, Orentios in single combat killed the giant Marmaroth, a champion of the barbarians, and so brought victory to the imperial host; yet because he openly confessed Christ before the emperor he was deprived of his dignity and exiled with his brothers to the city of Sata in Abasgia on the Black Sea. On the long march each in turn fell asleep in the Lord. Orentios himself, after being thrown into the sea bound and being preserved by an angel of God, was at last drowned and his body cast up at Pityus, where it was reverently buried. Their joint memorial is kept on this day in honour of all seven crowned warriors of Christ.

New Hieromartyr Procopius of Smyrna

The New Hieromartyr Procopius was born in the town of Varna on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria toward the close of the eighteenth century, and from his youth was drawn to the monastic life on Mount Athos, where he received the schema. Burning with zeal for Christ, he resolved to wash away by his blood an earlier moment of weakness in which he had appeared to deny the faith. Travelling to Smyrna, then under Turkish rule, he openly confessed Christ in the streets and reproached the Mohammedan religion. He was seized, imprisoned and offered honours and gifts to renounce his confession; he refused with constancy and was beheaded on 25 June 1810, sealing his witness with martyrdom. He is numbered with the company of the New Martyrs who, in the Ottoman period, gave their lives for the truth of Christ in the very sight of His enemies.

Saint Dionysios, builder of the Monastery of the Forerunner on Mount Athos

Saint Dionysios was born about 1316 in the village of Korissos near Kastoria in western Macedonia, and from his youth followed his elder brother Theodosios, later Metropolitan of Trebizond, to Mount Athos. After many years of monastic struggle at the Philotheou Monastery, he withdrew to a hesychastic cell on the southwestern slope of the Holy Mountain, where through a vision of a lampada burning at the place he was given to know the Lord's will to raise a monastery in honour of Saint John the Forerunner. Through his brother's intercession he obtained the support of the Emperor Alexios III Komnenos of Trebizond, whose chrysobull of 1374 endowed the foundation of what came to be called the Monastery of Dionysiou. Saint Dionysios served as its first abbot and gathered a great brotherhood, instructing them by word and example in the strict cenobitic life. He reposed in peace about the year 1388 in Trebizond, whither he had gone on monastic business. His relics worked many miracles, and his disciple and successor Saint Dometios, who reposed shortly after him around the year 1405, is commemorated together with him on this day.

Also commemorated: Peter and Fevronia of Murom

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Romans — Romans 1.1-7, 13-17

¹Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

¹Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, ²(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) ²which he promised afore through his prophets in the holy scriptures, ³Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; ³concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, ⁴And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: ⁴who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; even Jesus Christ our Lord, ⁵By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: ⁵through whom we received grace and apostleship, unto obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name’s sake; ⁶Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: ⁶among whom are ye also, called to be Jesus Christ’s: ⁷To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. ⁷to all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ¹³Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. ¹³And I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you (and was hindered hitherto), that I might have some fruit in you also, even as in the rest of the Gentiles. ¹⁴I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. ¹⁴I am debtor both to Greeks and to Barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. ¹⁵So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. ¹⁵So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you also that are in Rome.

¹⁶For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. ¹⁶For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. ¹⁷For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. ¹⁷For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Matthew — Matthew 4.25-5.13

²⁵And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan. ²⁵And there followed him great multitudes from Galilee and Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judæa and from beyond the Jordan.

¹And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

¹And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain: and when he had sat down, his disciples came unto him: ²And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, ²and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying, ³Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

³Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. ⁴Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

⁵Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. ⁵Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. ⁶Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

⁶Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. ⁷Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

⁷Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

⁸Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. ⁸Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

⁹Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God. ⁹Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

¹⁰Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹⁰Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. ¹¹Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. ¹²Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. ¹²Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you.

¹³Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men.

¹³Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.